Cimicifuga  japonica plant named ‘Hillside Splashdance’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of ornamental plant, Cimicifuga japonica ‘Hillside Splashdance’, which has greenish foliage with multi-colored variegation.

Latin name: Cimicifuga japonica.

Variety denomination: ‘Hillside Splashdance’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention relates to the new and distinct cultivar ofCimicifuga plant, botanically known as Cimicifuga japonica andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Hillside Splashdance’ or as “newplant.” Cimicifuga japonica is also botanically known as Actaeajaponica.

The new plant of the present invention was discovered as a seedling in aflat of seedlings of a species form of Cimicifuga japonica in Shelburne,Mass., U.S. by the inventor who has asexually reproduced the new plantand who has cultivated the new plant for the last eight years bydivision. Asexual propagation by division has determined that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable; the new plant retainsits distinctive characteristics and is reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Cimicifuga japonica ‘Hillside Splashdance’ is unique from all otherCimicifuga japonica cultivars known to the inventor hereof. The plant isdistinct in having multicolored variegation of the foliage, compared toknown unpatented commercial cultivars, for example, Cimicifuga japonica‘Chenju Island Form’ plant.

The following are traits of Cimicifuga japonica ‘Hillside Splashdance’plant that, in combination, distinguish it and make it unique from allother Cimicifuga japonica cultivars known to the inventor: The plant hasan upright habit with of multi-colored variegation, including white,yellow, and cream colors and various shades of light and dark green. Thevariegation pattern varies from leaf to leaf. The buds of flowers arecreamy white to pink color. Numerous racemes with mildly-fragrant creamcolored flowers may be present. The predominately green foliage darkensin its color intensity as the season goes on. The plant is suitable forplacing in a garden as an accent or en masse.

By having the variegation described above, the new plant differs fromother common unpatented commercial cultivar Cimicifuga japonica plantswhich have plain green foliage, as for example the aforementionedCimicifuga japonica ‘Chenju Island Form’ plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The photographs show the overall appearance of the new plant. The colorsare as accurate as reasonably possible with color reproductions.

FIG. 1A shows the leaves of a typical new Cimicifuga japonica ‘HillsideSplashdance’ plant, with their variegations.

FIG. 1B shows a variegated leaf of another typical new plant where creamcolor dominates dark green color.

FIG. 2 shows a multiplicity of variegated leaves of a typical new plantas presented in Springtime, with cream, warm yellow and bright greencolors.

FIG. 3 shows a portion of a new plant having variegated leaves, whiteand pink unopened flower buds, along with some blossoms which are mostoften white, less often pink color, as presented in late Summer.

FIG. 4 shows almost all of a full-grown new plant with a typical shapeand variegated leaves having different shades of green color.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new plant cultivar asobserved over the last eight years in a nursery setting in Shelburne,Mass., U.S.

Detailed botanical data was collected from up to 3 year-old plants grownin half gallon pots and from up to 5 year-old plants grown in a garden.The phenotype of the new plant cultivar may vary slightly with differentgrowing environments such as temperature, light, fertility, soil pH,soil moisture and plant maturity levels. The new plant has not beentested under all possible growing conditions. The unknown parentCimicifuga japonica of the new plant is commonly available in commerceand is not known to be patented; it has green un-variegated foliage.

The color determination recited herein is in accordance with the 2007edition of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart exceptwhere common dictionary terms are used.

-   Botanical classification: Cimicijuga japonica.-   Plant habit: Hardy herbaceous perennial with inverted triangle shape    when flowering. Dense and bushy growth habit; moderately vigorous    growth. Plants average 76 cm tall and average 40 cm width.-   Propagation: By division of rootstock and offsets.-   Roots: Fibrous roots are fleshy and branched, typically 1-2 mm in    diameter. Most roots are tan color ranging between N59D and 160D.    Older plant roots may be more brownish in color, 151A.-   Stem/branch: Stems are smooth in texture and round in cross section,    typically about 3 mm diameter and 6 to 22 cm in length. The base of    the stem is purple N99B, fading to green 142A along the stem length.    The node at the petiole at the intersection of branches is purple    N79A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, ternately compound, basal leaf.        -   Leaf size.—A typical leaf is 11 to 28 cm in length and 11 to            24 cm in width (excluding the petiole) and is comprised of a            multiplicity of leaflets as exemplified by FIG. 1A. Leaflets            range in number from 1 to 3, with 3 leaflets being            predominant.        -   Leaflet.—A typical leaflet is 5 to 12 cm in length and 11 to            24 cm in width; its shape is broad ovate to orbicular and it            has 3 to 5 lobes. A typical leaflet is serrate, glabrous,            slightly rugose, and has pinnate veining.        -   Leaf color.—Early spring leaves are green 142A; developing            leaves become variegated, having greenish yellow and green            colors ranging between RHS 149B and 141C. Some leaves will            tend to be solid green, having colors of RHS 135A and RHS            134A. As time passes and the days warm up, variegation            emerges which has contrasting colors of warm yellow green            149C and green 140A. See FIG. 2. During mid-summer and late            summer the leaves predominately tend to become a darker            green color 136B; and the warm yellow portions turn to light            green 142A. A few leaves become off-white ranging between            150D and NN155D. See FIG. 1B. Late in the summer season,            variegation may become splotchy. The lower leaf color of            emerging young leaves is green 142A; the lower leaf color of            mature leaves is light green, ranging between 134C and 134D.        -   Leaf petiole.—Average Primary petiole is 12 cm long by 3 mm            wide; average secondary petiole is 6 cm long by 2 mm wide.            Petioles have green colors ranging between 142A and 149C            with intersections of dark purple N79A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Bloom.—Rotate flowers about 10 to 15 mm in diameter appear            once each year beginning in late August, continuing through            mid-September in Shelburne Mass. (approximately latitude            42.6 degree N, longitude 72.7 degree E), with flowers            lasting from 2-3 weeks. See FIG. 3. Fragrance when present            is mild.        -   Raceme.—Average size is 15 cm long (excluding peduncle of 45            to 100 cm long) and 2 cm wide; averaging 60 flowers per            primary peduncle; averaging 25 flowers per secondary            peduncle; averaging 6 secondary peduncles per primary            peduncle.        -   Peduncles.—Average 4 peduncles per plant. Peduncle color:            dark gray-green N137C. Color of flower stalks: light green            142A. As buds mature and open the peduncles turn purple,            ranging between 79A and 79D.        -   Pedicles.—Average length is 1 to 2 mm by about 2 mm            diameter; color is light tan ranging between 158B and 158C.        -   Petals.—None were observed.        -   Buds.—Two sepals enclose the reproductive portion of the            flower, forming a bud which is globular and about 3.5 to 5            mm in diameter; typically pink color 75C. Some buds may be            cream color, ranging between 157D and NN155A. See FIG. 3.-   Reproductive organs: Sepals separate revealing white stamens topped    with ovate anthers that are 1 to 2 mm long by 1 mm wide. White    stamen filaments are 4 to 5 mm long and less than 1 mm wide. There    are 40-50 stamens that surround the white carpel in the center of    the flower. The carpel is 2 mm in diameter and 2.5 mm long. The    pollen color is white, lighter than NN155D.-   Seed/fruit: A single seed pod forms at each point along the raceme    where there was once a flower. Ripening seed pods are fleshy and    green N141C, 7 to 8 mm long and 3 to 5 mm wide. When the seed is    ripe, the outer shell dries out, becomes paper thin, and turns brown    N199A. There are 2-4 seeds per pod. The seeds are brown 199B and    pubescent, about 1 to 2 mm wide and 3 mm long.-   Garden performance: The new plant has been observed to have good    garden performance. The new plant grows best in part or light shade    with ample moisture and adequate drainage. Hardy to USDA zone 4.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cimicifugajaponica plant named ‘Hillside Splashdance’ as herein described andillustrated.